Spark-plug



D; W. LANG AND A. D. VAUGHN.

SPARK PLUG,

APPLICATION men MA.Y;19, 1919.

1,353,597, I Y Patente dSept. 21,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

6111 01 we q D. W. LANG 'AND'A. D. VAUGHN.

SPARK PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1919.

Patented Spt. 21, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. as to afford ad ustment of oneof the elec- I trodes whereby thelength of the spark gap relatively adjustable UNITED s DONALD w. LANGAND ARTHUR D. VAUGHN, or nnnnEn-,.rE1\TNs vAmA.

SPA K-Price.

To call whom c't-ma'y 0mm.-

and ARTHUR D. VAUGHN, citizens of the United States, residing at El'dred in the county of McKean and State of'li ennsyl- Vania, have invented certainnew and useful.

Improvements in Spark-Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a spark plug for explosive enginesembodying such novel features of construction may be varied according to the intensity of the current of the ignition'system.

Another object is the provisionof an indicator associated with the relatively adjustable electrode by which the length" of. the spark gap may be readily determined and varied and which, in addition constitutes a retaining means for maintaining the relatively adjustable electrode in adjusted position.

\Vith the above andotlier objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention :comprises the various novel features of construction. and arrangement of parts Which will be more fully described herein and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which like reference characters indicate the corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which F igure 1 represents an end elevation of the external terminal of the improved spark plug,

Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the internal terminal of the plug, I

Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the plug,

Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the electrode detached, and

Fig. 5 represents a detail sectional view through the support for one terminal of the adjusted screw.

Referring to the drawings in detail whereinsimilar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views the numeral 5 indicates the hollow cylindrical body of the plug which is of such external shape and size as to be received in the port ordinarily formed in the Specificationof Letters Patent. q Pate ted S pt, 21 192 Application filed May 19, 1919'. seria no: 2935,0913. I

flange 6 rovided. withb l holes 7 Wheleby the plug is rigidly secured and positioned upon. the engine cylinder.

As in the ordlnary construction of spark plugs, the body 5 consists ofinetal or'other conducting "material" "having requisite.

strength to withstand the explosions in the explosive chamber of the engine cylinder and a longitudinal openingQS is formed in spaced parallel relation tothe' longitudinal axis of the body-and pivotally receives the shank 9 of'the relatively adjustable electrode 10 the inner terminal ofwhich is enlarged to providera shoulder 11 lying in con- ;tact with the inner terminalnf the plug-"5' to provide a. fluid tight'jointand'the opposite terminal offthe" shanlrisfexternally threaded andrecjeives a spacing element 11 and securing nut12. In order to establish a non-rotatable connectionbetween the spacing element'll and' the; electrode shank 9 a. portion of the latter lying inwardlyof the external screw threads'is preferably of p oly onal form and indicated at13, in liig. 4L and an indicating member 15 is non-rotatably mounted upon the polygonal portion intermediate the spacing eleme 1 it 11 and the nut 12 and is' "removableandrigidly held in position by the latter.

The extremity of the enlarged terminal 0 the electrode is directed angularly and 'provided with a sparking pin or point 16 arranged adjacent the insulated point 17 carried by the electrode 18 which latter is sup ported in a longitudinal openingin the body 5 disposed in spaced parallel opening receiving the shank 9 and having relation to the interposed between the electrode and the metallic body a wrapping of mica or other insulating material 19 and a tube of porcelain 20. The inner terminal of the electrode 18 is formed with a head 21 and external shoulder 22 limiting the movement of the electrode in one direction longitudinally of the body 5. away at the side from projects. The opposite terminal of the electrode is externally-screw threaded and is re-' ceived by a nut 23 which the contact member 24. is electrically connected with the one of the conductors of the ignition system of the engine in the usual manner.

The outer terminal of the indicating member 15 is enlarged and of circular form and is received between the terminal flanges 25 electrode and is adapted to be connected with I The head 21 is partially cut which the point 17' of the body 5 and suitably held against ro-' tary movement with relation thereto. The extreme terminal of the indicator 15 is provided with a pointer 29 movable over a series of graduated marks 30 on the terminal of the body and by which the. length of the spark gap between the points 16 and 17 may be readil 7 determined while the lu is in actual operation upon the engine.

In operation, the length of the spark gap for electrical currents of varying intensity is determined'by practical experiment and by using such'experiments as a basis, the points may be set so as. to obtain the best results with an electrical current of known intensity. ,The proper adjustment of the relatively movable electrode or sparking point 16 is efiected by rotary movement of the sleeve 26 upon the screw 27 thus causing the sleeve to move in either one direction or the other, effecting an oscillatory move ment of the shank 9 in the body 5 and movement of the sparking point 16 toward or away from the point 17 according to the direction of movement of the sleeve 26.

The flanges at the terminals of the adjusting sleeve 25 are preferably of polygonal form so as to be engaged by a suitable type of wrench for "convenience in adjusting the sleeve longitudinally of the screw 27 and the pins 16 and 17 are also preferably removably secured in position'in order that they may be conveniently and inexpensively removed and replaced by new ones, if necessary, or cleaned.

What we claim'is:

1. A spark plug including a body, a sparking point electrically connected therewith and adjustably supported thereon, a relatively stationary sparking point insulated from the body, an indicating member carried by the relatively adjustable sparking member and provided with a circular terminal, a relatively stationary screw carried by thebody, and a sleeve mounted for adjustment upon said screw and having terminal flanges confining the circular portion of the indicating member for effecting at.- justment of the latter simultaneously with the movement of the sleeve. I r I 2. A spark plug including a body, a sparking point electrically connected therewith andadjustably supported thereon, a relatively stationary sparking point insulated from the body, a scale on said body, an indicating member carried by the relatively adjustable sparking member movable across the scale, said indicating member having a circular enlarged portion, a relatively sta tionary screw carried by the body, a sleeve fitted upon the screw and adapted for adjustment thereon, and terminal flanges carried by the sleeve receiving the circular portion of the indicating member for adjusting the latter overthe scale.

In testimony whereof, we afliX our signatures hereto.

DONALD w. LANG. ARTHUR n. VAUGHN. 

